ShopRite Opens Innovative New Store
KEASBEY, NJ - Doubling down on a commitment to brick-and-mortar retail, Wakefern Food Corp.-owned ShopRite announced plans to open a full-service, state-of-the-art store in Connecticut. The new store, which will be owned and operated by the Garafolo family and the family’s company Garafolo Markets, has a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for May 18 at 8 a.m.
“We are very excited to bring our ‘Fresh Marketplace’ ShopRite to the residents of Cromwell with the opening of this state-of-the-art shopping destination,” said Harry Garafalo, whose family also operates ShopRite stores in Milford, East Haven, Stratford, Orange and Hamden, CT. “We really believe the store will become an important part of the fabric of the local community.”
According to the press release, the store will take up 67,000 square feet and will include a number of new shopper-friendly features. The store will have a community room and culinary center for cooking workshops and demonstrations. Free nutrition counseling services will be available to customers, staff, and pick-up and home delivery online services, from an on-site registered dietitian. Fresh prepared meals will be available to customers along with custom salads and delicious dishes from in-store eateries like the Grill, Sizzling Wok and Sushi, House Smoked BBQ, Go Bowls, and Natural Foods—which can be taken home or enjoyed in the café. The store will also have an extensive array of organic, local, and gluten-free foods.
The new store will also feature a range of to-notch departments throughout the store, including:
- From-scratch bake shop: serving up special occasion cakes and freshly made bread
- Meat: with trained butchers
- Full-service seafood: featuring daily, fresh catch deliveries
- Floral shop: with fresh flowers
- Full-service deli and prepared foods: with a grilling station and grab-and-go items, freshly prepared hot entrees, salad and olive bars, and made-to-order sandwiches
The new store is set to employ around 280 people, with hiring continuing throughout the store opening. The new shopping format also incorporates innovative energy-saving and sustainable technology, including LED lighting and environmentally friendly refrigerant systems.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be attended by Cromwell Mayor Enzo Faienza and representatives of the local Council, Chamber of Commerce, and area non-profit groups.
Keep reading AndNowUKnow for more ground-breaking stories about retailers breaking ground.
